2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 09 - Education and Culture
Chapter 327 - State Financing of Elementary and Secondary Education
Section 327.339 - Local Option Equalization Grants Account; grant payments.

(1) The Local Option Equalization Grants Account is created in the General Fund.

(2) From the biennial legislative appropriation to the Local Option Equalization Grants Account to fund the local option equalization grant program described in ORS 327.336, amounts necessary to make the grant payments are continuously appropriated to the Department of Education for the purpose of making these payments.

(3) The department shall make estimated local option equalization grant payments to school districts entitled to such payments under ORS 327.336 on or before March 31 of each fiscal year.

(4) If the estimated local option equalization grant payment does not equal the actual local option equalization grant to which a school district is entitled under ORS 327.336, the department shall determine the increase or decrease needed to correct the amount of the grant and may incorporate the correction into a state school fund grant made to the district. The correction may be made in any state school fund grant made during the fiscal year in which the estimated grant payment was made or in the next succeeding fiscal year.

(5) If the amount of moneys available in the Local Option Equalization Grants Account is insufficient to make the payments required under ORS 327.336 and this section, the payments shall be proportionally reduced so that the state does not accrue a debt in making these payments. [2001 c.896 §3]

Note: Sections 3 and 4, chapter 604, Oregon Laws 2015, provide:

Sec. 3. Work group related to English language learner programs. (1) The Department of Education shall convene a work group related to English language learner programs.

(2) The work group must consist of educators, parents, community stakeholders, experts on English language learner policy and experts in collecting and analyzing data. The department shall solicit recommendations for membership from organizations that represent educators, administrators, school district boards and parents when determining membership of the work group.

(3) The work group shall identify the following:

(a) Criteria for determining if a school district is:

(A) Not meeting objectives and the needs of students eligible for and enrolled in an English language learner program, taking into account the specific learning challenges and demographics of the students; or

(B) In need of targeted assistance.

(b) Information necessary for school districts to include in an annual report on student progress indicators for students eligible for and enrolled in an English language learner program for the purpose of determining if a school district is:

(A) Not meeting objectives and the needs of students eligible for and enrolled in an English language learner program, taking into account the specific learning challenges and demographics of the students; or

(B) In need of targeted assistance.

(c) Technical assistance that the department will provide to a school district that is:

(A) Not meeting objectives and the needs of students eligible for and enrolled in an English language learner program, taking into account the specific learning challenges and demographics of the students; or

(B) In need of targeted assistance.

(d) Guidelines for how the department shall direct a school district on how to expend moneys received under ORS 327.013 (1)(c)(A)(ii) if the school district is:

(A) Not meeting objectives and the needs of students eligible for and enrolled in an English language learner program, taking into account the specific learning challenges and demographics of the students; or

(B) In need of targeted assistance.

(4) In addition to the duties of the work group prescribed by subsection (3) of this section, the work group shall establish criteria to define and identify long-term English language learners and develop recommendations for best practices on the following:

(a) Providing ongoing support to students of a school district who no longer are eligible for or enrolled in an English language learner program under ORS 336.079.

(b) Engaging parents and delivering essential notifications related to English language learner programs.

(c) Identifying students who are eligible to be enrolled in an English language learner program, including any identification methods that occur before a student enrolls in kindergarten.

(d) Providing accommodations for assessments for English language learners.

(e) Assessing English language learners, which may allow for a list of assessments to be approved by the department.

(f) Acquiring student library books in languages other than English.

(g) Providing support to students who have been identified as long-term English language learners.

(5) Taking into consideration the work of the work group under this section, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules:

(a) Related to the work of the work group as described in subsection (3) of this section no later than January 1, 2016.

(b) Related to the work of the work group as described in subsection (4) of this section no later than January 1, 2017. [2015 c.604 §3]

Sec. 4. Repeal. Section 3 of this 2015 Act is repealed on January 2, 2017.

[2015 c.604 §4]